Colostomy attachments



NOV. 9, 1965 D. E. SMITH ETAL 3,216,420

CQLOSTOMY ATTACHMENTS Filed D60. 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Donald E.Smifh Bobbie 0. C/aycomb IN VEN TORS BY If lime;

Nov. 9, 1965 D. E. SMITH ETAL 3,216,420

COLOSTOMY ATTACHMENTS Filed Dec. 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5 a Fig.6 \/V [2 I Y Q Dona/a E Smith Bobbie 0. C/aycamb INVENTORS United StatesPatent Wyo.

Filed Dec. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 247,617 4 Claims. (Cl. 128283) The presentinvention relates to an improved colostomy attachment which is expresslydesigned and adapted for use in conjunction with a surgically preparedorifice in the users abdomen and the combination therewith ofselectively usable manually applicable and removable attachments.

As is evident from the preceding general statement of the subject matterof the invention the overall concept comprehends not only the meanswhich is inserted and retained in the abdominal orifice but themultipurpose attachment means such as, for example, a fecal mattercollection and disposal bag, a readily applicable and removable closingplug which is adapted to be used when the bag is not being used, and aspecially constructed T-shaped attachment for use when irrigation isneeded or necessary as the case may be.

Briefly summarized, the colostomy attachment is characterized,generically interpreted, by open ended tubular insert means. This meansconstitutes and provides a bushing and is designed and adapted to fitinto the abdominal orifice in a manner to line and rigidity the same, toprevent shrinkage and consequent gradual closing of the orifice andwhich when anchored in its intended position provides a receiver andretainer for manually applied and removed accessories and appliances.

With respect to the readily attachable and detachable accessories andappliances these will vary in construction and purpose. However, eachappliance embodies an attaching and retaining adapter which when in useis fitted telescopingly into the colostomy attachment or orifice andthus securely and reliably anchored in place.

More particularly, novelty is predicated on the means so far set forthand wherein the colostomy bag is eccentrically provided on itsattachable wall or proximal side with a conical adapter susceptible ofbeing fitted telescopingly into the socket portion provided therefor inthe aforementioned tubular insert means. This bag serves to collect andfacilitates the disposal of fecal matter and waste material and when inuse minimizes the likelihood of undesirable leakage of waste material,irritation, infection and embarrasing odors.

Irrigation from time to time is not only recommended but is essential.Therefore in carrying out the invention a simple T-shaped attachment isprovided and is adapted to accommodate appropriate hoses which whenattached thereto and with the adapter thereof fitted in place effectiveirrigation and drainage of the intestine with maximum sanitation and aminimum of discomfort is accomplished.

The invention also features the adoption and use of an insertable andremovable plug which consitutes a stopper and which is temporarilybrought into play to check drainage from the intestines and toeliminate, while the plug is in use, the necessity of wearing theaforementioned colostomy bag. With this closing facility it will beevident that the user thereof may then be able to participate inswimming, other outdoor sport events and activities without fear ofembarrassement or such unfortunate difliculties as are encountered whena protruding and bulky bag is of necessity being used.

Then, too, it is an aspect of the invention that the insert means shouldbe either corrugated for secure anchorage and retention in the abdominalorifice or should comprise an open ended conical sleeve or the likewhich is provided around its exterior with a milled, knurled orspecially fabricated surface which permits the adhesion of flesh theretoand consequently achieves good anchorage for the tubular or equivalentinsert means.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a View showing a fragmentary portion of the users abdomen insection, which illustrates the abdominal orifice and associated terminalend of the intestine and, what is more important, shows the insert means(one embodiment thereof) and an insertable and removable safety-typeclosure or plug;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded View in perspective showing the two componentparts which go to make up the insert means and, in addition, themanually insertable and removable and removable closing plug;-

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective of the T-shaped attachment which isused in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 4 for irrigating purposes;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section taken approximately on the plane of theirregular section line 44 of FIG- URE 3 and which shows how theattachment is applied (in phantom lines) with hose-ends connectedthereto;

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective illustrating the aforementionedcolostomy bag;

FIGURE 6 is a view in section taken approximately on the plane of theline 6-6 of FIGURE 5 and wherein the bag is illustrated in place inconnection with the abdominal orifice with the insert means therein;

FIGURE 7 is a view showing a portion of the abdomen (in phantom lines)and illustrating a modified type of insert means which is not onlycorrugated but normally closed by a pressure opened flap valve;

FIGURE 8 is a view based on FIGURE 7 showing the valve pushed to openposition; and

FIGURE 9 is a view in perspective of the insert means by itself.

Reference will be made first to the tubular insert means one adaptationof which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the other in FIGS. 7, 8 and9. Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, and more particularly FIG. 1 thenumeral 12 denotes a fragmentary portion of the users body, the abdomen,for example which is illustrated as having a colostomy or orifice 14therein and wherein the terminal end portion 16 of the intestine 18 isunited there'- with.

The colostomy attachment may be and is, in the present describedembodiment, of two-part construction. In fact, the means comprises anouter sleeve 20 which, as is shown, is of truncated conical form withits reduced inner open end denoted at 22 and its outer end at 24. Thissleeve constitutes a liner for the abdominal orifice and in practice itis not only of tapering or truncated conical form, it is made fromacceptably suitable forarninous material whereby when it is inserted orinstalled in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 it will be securelyanchored in place by reason of the fact that the flesh and body tissueswill adhere thereto and during the process of healing will virtuallyjoin therewith thus to provide an efficacious lining for the abdominalorifice. The inner sleeve is denoted at 26 and is fitted telescopicallyinto the outer sleeve and has an inner end 28 and a flange 30 at itsouter end. The flanged outer end abuts the corresponding outer end 24 ofthe outer sleeve and both sleeves are approximately of the same lengthand are appropriately joined together so that the inner sleeve,

which is imperforate, provides a reinforcing liner and bushing for theouter sleeve. However, the two sleeves 20 and 26 considered as an entityconstitute the open ended tubular insert means, the latter consituting asocket-like receiver for the accessories or appliances each of which,broadly speaking, comprises a readily applicable and removableattachment.

With reference first to the attachment or appliance in FIGS. 3 and 4this comprises a hollow T-shaped plastic or equivalent device denotedgenerally at 32, the same comprising a hollow body 34 with outwardlyoppositely tapering end portions or necks 36 and 38. These necks providefor the attachment thereto of the terminal end portions 40 and 42 ofirrigating hoses 44 and 46. These hose ends are shown attached to thebody in its position of use illustrated in the phantom line showing inFIG. 4. As illustrated in both FIGS. 3 and 4 the irrigating attachment32 is provided with a truncated conical or tapering adapter 48 whoseinner tapering end 50 is shown projecting through and beyond themechanical or artificial colostomy comprising the insert means of FIGS.1 and '2.

With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be evident that thenumeral 52 designates an insertable and removable tapered closing plugor closure which is hollow if desired and the inner tapering end thereofbeing denoted at 54. The outer solid 'or closed end is denoted at 56 asillustrated in FIG. 1. This plug should be fitted and retained byfriction in place when it is being used. Its purpose as alreadysuggested is to enable the user to plug or close off the abdominalorifice when participating in swimming and outdoor and equivalent gamesand activities. It is obvious that the outer end portion of the plug :52will be of such construction that it may be caught hold of with onesfingers for the purpose of inserting and removing it. The illustrationin FIGURES 1 and 2 does not go into detail in respect to this aspect ofthe plug construction.

Normally and generally speaking the mechanically prepared colostomy orabdominal orifice in FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed and adapted toaccommodate an attachable and detachable colostomy bag which is denotedgenerally (FIGS. and 6) by the numeral '58. This 'bag may be of anyappropriate material and preferably embodies an inner proximal circularwall 60 and opposed spaced parallel outer or distal walls 62 and aperipheral portion '64 joining the walls together. The truncated conicaladapter in this instance is again of rigid material and it is denotedhere by the numeral 66, the inner insertable end being denoted at 68 andthe outer flanged end 70 being vulcanized or otherwise securely attachedto the wall 60 to assume a position eccentric to the axis of -the bag asa unit. The peripheral wall 64 may be and preferably is provided at anappropriate place with a normally closed venting valve 72 of theapproximate construction shown in FIG. 6. The valve is normally closedbut when pushed open serves to vent gases from the interior or chamberportion of the bag.

As is evident the various attachments illustrated are equipped withcorrespondingly constructed adapters so that the one specially preparedabdominal orifice, more particularly the insert or socket means servesto accominodate the interchangeable attachments each provided with astandardized adapter which is telescopingly fitted in place and held byfricion. It will be understood, however, that the adapters may vary inshape and material to correspond with the receiving and retaining sockettherefor.

It is within the purview of the invention to employ a single sleeve-typeinsert such as the one :denoted at 74 in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. Here againthe insert comprises an open ended sleeve or truncated conical tube theinner reduced end of which isdenoted at 76, the outer larger flanged'end at 78. The body portion here is corrugated as at 80, thecorrugations serving, obviously, to facilitate retention of the sleeveonce it is in place in the orifice 82 in the abdomen 84. In thisconstruction and arrangement a normally closed fiap valve is provided,said valve being denoted at 86 and being integral and cooperable withthe seating ring 88.

It is regarded as significant here to mention that although certain ofthe male and female coacting component parts are shown and described astapered or of truncated conical form the taper is thought not to beessential in that such interfitting or telescopically connectedcomponent parts may vary in cross-section, need not depend on frictionfor junctional connection with each other. In fact, it is within thepurview of the concept to utilize, if deemed proper by the manufacturer,O-rings or equivalent mechanical fastening and packing elements.

Then, too, and While it is desirable to rely in part on the idea of theartificial colostomy growing in the surgical orifice such is notessential. This is to say, it is not intended to convey the impressionthat the body tissues must necessarily adhere to the surfaces of thecomponent parts with which they coact.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction and operation show and described,and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in conjunction with an abdominal surgical colostomycharacterized by an abdominal orifice and the customarily connectedterminal end portion of the intestine; insert means for the orificecomprising an outer fabricated foraminous truncated conical sleevefitted and anchored in the orifice, an inner complemental truncatedconical sleeve fitted within the outer sleeve and attached thereto andprovided at an outer end with an abutment flange, a colostomy bag havinga side provided with an eccentrically later-ally projecting truncatedconical adapter, said adapter being designed and adapted to be fittedtelescopingly and frictionally into said inner sleeve in a manner tolocate the bag adjacent to the exterior of the abdomen of the wearer.

2. For use in conjunction with an abdominal surgical colostomycharacterized by an abdominal orifice and the customarily connectedterminal end portion of the intestine; insert means for the orificecomprising an outer fabricated forarninous truncated conical sleevefitted and anchored in the orifice, an inner complemental truncatedconical sleeve fitted within the outer sleeve and attached thereto andprovided at an outer end with an abutment flange, a readily attachableand detachable irrigating device comprising a hollow T-shaped memberembodying an elongated hollow body having axially aligned open-endedtapering necks for the attachment thereto of end portions ofcommunicable fluid circulating hoses, said body portion having a lateraltruncated conical adapter of a length and transverse cross-sectionaldimension permitting the same to be telescopingly fitted andfriction-retained in communicable and cooperative relation in the boreof said sleeve.

3. For use in conjunction with an abdominal surgical colostomycharacterized by an abdominal orifice and the customarily connectedterminal end portion of the intestine; insert means for the orificecomprising an! outer fabricated foraminous truncated conical sleeve:fitted and anchored in the orifice, an inner complemental.

truncated conical sleeve fitted within the outer sleeveand attachedthereto and provided an an. outer end with: an abutment flange, amanually applicable and remov-- able closing plug, said plug having; a;tapering, bode p tion fitted telescopingly and frictionally retained inthe bore of said sleeve and serving to thus plug and close the sleeve,said plug when in its fully closed position having a minimal outer endportion projecting beyond the corresponding outer end of the sleeve toenable the user to catch hold of the same in a manner to insert andremove said plug.

4. For use in conjunction with an abdominal surgical colostomycharacterized by an abdominal orifice and the customarily connectedterminal end portion of the intestine; insert means for the orificecomprising an outer fabricated foraminous trunctated conical sleevefitted and anchored in the orifice, an inner complemental truncatedconical sleeve fitted within the outer sleeve and attached thereto andprovided at an outer end with an abutment flange, a colostomy bag havingproximal and distal walls, said proximal wall being adapted to beopposed to the users body and adjacent to the outer end of said sleevewhen being used and having an eccentrically positioned laterallyprojecting adapter, said adapter being openended and hollow and fittedtelescopically into the inner sleeve and serving to thus support the bagfor use by the cooperating adapter fitting into said inner sleeve,

said bag being provided with normally closed manually 25 openable valvemeans on a peripheral surface thereof and which is readily accessiblefor release of otherwise entrapped gases.

6 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,688,795 10/28Aas 128-348 2,243,529 5/41 Grossman et a1. 128-1 2,290,571 7/42 Peyton128-348 2,406,600 8/46 Forestiere 128343 2,564,399 8/51 Franken 1282832,618,271 11/52 Wallace 128-350 2,689,567 9/54 Welch 128-283 2,867,2131/59 Thomas, Jr. 128-35O 3,039,468 6/62 Price 128348 3,137,299 6/64Tabor 128-351 FOREIGN PATENTS 873,045 7/61 Great Britain.

20 1962, The Use of Heavy MarleX Mesh for Tracheal ReconstructionFollowing Resection for Malignancy, Paul R. Ellis, Jr., et al., pages520-527.

J.A.M.A., Nov. 9, 1957, page 1276, Plastic Tracheostomy Button, Moore.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner.

3. FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN ABDOMINAL SURGICAL COLOSTOMYCHARACTERIZED BY AN ABDOMINAL ORIFICE AND THE CUSTOMARILY CONNECTEDTERMINAL END PORTION OF THE INTESTINE; INSERT MEANS FOR THE ORIFICECOMPRISISNG AN OUTER FABRICATED FORAMINOUS TRUNCATED CONICAL SLEEVELFITTED AND ANCHORED IN THE ORIFICE, AN INNER COMPLEMENTAL TRUNCATEDCONICAL SLEEVE FITTED WITHIN THE OUTER SLEEVE AND ATTACHED THERETO ANDPROVIDED AT AN OUTER END WITH AN ABUTMENT FLANGE, A MANUALLY APPLICABLEAND REMOVABLE CLOSING PLUG, SAID PLUG HAVING A TAPERING BODY PORTIONFITTED TELESCOPINGLY AND FRICTIONALLY RETAINED IN THE BORE OF SAIDSLEEVE AND SERVING TO THUS PLUG AND CLOSE THE SLEEVE, SAID PLUG WHEN INITS FULLY CLOSED POSITION HAVING A MINIMAL OUTER END PORTION PROJECTINGBEYOND